Means for automatic drilling



Feb. 7, 192s. 1,658,262

R. A. SPERRY ET AL l l MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC DRILLING Filed June 25, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 7, 1928. 1,658,262

R. A. sPERRY ET A1.

MEANSl FOR AUTOMATIC DRILL'ING Filed June 25.. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hmm 11111111] I-Il rra /P/vfyls.

Feb. 7, 1928. 1,658,262

R. A. sPl-:RRY ET Al.

MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC DRILLING Filed June 25. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 SY w WW f rramvfys Feb. 7, 192s. K 1,658,262

R. A. SPERRY ET AL mms FOR AUTOMATIC DRILLING Filed June 25, 1924 4 sheets-sheet 4v Patented Feb. 7, 192s.

UNITED 'STATESv RICHARD A( SPERRY, SAMUEL J. DICKEY, AND JOHN A. ZUBLIN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION F CALIFORNIA,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Application med .rune 25, 1924. serial No. 722,338.

Our present invention includes a method of and means for automatic drilling; and it is a special object of this invention to provide an ellicient and reliable organization whereby either the pressure of a rotary drill or the torque to which astring of drill pipe is subjected, or both said pressure and said torque, may be automatically regulated.

In a co-pending application (Serial No.

722,337, filed June 25, 1924), we have disclosed and claimed a fluid operated4 cablehandling drill jack suitable for use in predetermining the bottom pressure of a drill, during operation; in another co-pending 15, application (Serial No. 722,339, filed June 25, 1924), we have disclosed and claimed a device for the measurement and control of torsional strains in drill pipe; and it is an object of our present invention to utilize certain principles of the above mentioned devices in a complete system of automatic drilling by means of a rotary drill.

To obviate the necessity of reference t0 our mentioned copending applications, we here- Ain describe such features thereof as are pertinent to our present invention,-a preferred embodiment ofy which may comprise, as a feeding device, a fluid operated jack, and, as rotating means, a torque-responsive device including a planetary transmission comprising an intermediate rotary element. The

translator-y movement of this intermediate element may, in case of undue resistance, im-

para motion to a lever controlling a valve by which the pressure in said jack and the consequent movements of a piston therein,

and thereby the pressure on a drill, may be controlled.

It Will be understood to be vitallyv nec- 4o` essary, in the automatic control of drilling operations, to keep the torsional moment of a drill pipe Within a limit of safety; and the maximum eliiciency of drilling operations may require a coiistantDapproximation to said limlt Without danger of surpassing the same; and it is accordingly an object of rotate a string of drill pipe, and said lever may be employed not only to control an outlet valve through which a fluid may be normally circulated by means of a pump but also to control the supply of a motor fluid to said pump, or even that to an engine rotating said drill pipe.

In general, it is an object of our invention to provide means and methods for maintaining in drilling, a constant bottom pressure, such as may be suitable for use in a specific formation; and we may use therein any preferred means for predetermining a maximum torsional strain on drill pipe; and we aim to adapt our novel means and methods to any type, make, length, or size of drill pipe.

Other objects of our invention will appear from the following description of an advantageous embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding horizontal sectional view, on a slightly reduced scale, this View being taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, with details omitted, showing the lay-out of an alternative installation, as actually constructed.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing only the hydraulic jack of the same installation in its relation to frame and platform elements. y

Fig. 5 is a somewhat enlarged plan view, with parts broken away, showing optional details not disclosed in preceding figures.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7` is a vertical 'section substantially on the line 7--7 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the details of that specific embodiment of our invention chosen for purposes of illustration, in Figs. 1 and 2, 11 may be a string of drill pipe supported by means of a block 12, a swivel 13 being interposed,

and the pipe 11 being fed with 'water or slush in a usual manner, as by a hose 14. The drill pipe 11 alsocarries a suitable bit 9 at its lower end.

Thepipe 11 may be rotated by means of a usual table 15, within which the pipe 1l may be secured in a usual or preferred manner; and the feed of the pipe 11 may be controlled by the movement of a cable 16, the end 17 ofl which may be connected with, for example, a calf Wheel not shown. Although, the block 12 may be moved by a calf wheel, or the like, we inter-pose, as best shown in Fig. 1, one or more pairs of fixed sheaves 18 and 19, shown as pivoted at 2() upon the body of a fluid operated jack 21; and we interpose between the fixed sheaves 18 and 19, a movable she-ave or sheaves 422, shown as supported by means of a piston 23, movable under fluid pressure within the cylinder 24 of the jack 21, this jack being shown as supported upon a base 25 rigidly 'secured to a foundation 26.

To impart movementfo the piston 23, we may employ means such as a pump 27, having a feed pipe 28 and a, delivery pipo 29. The delivery pipe 29 which may optionally' be provided with gauges 3() and 31 adapted to indicate respectively the fluid pressure within the pipe 29 and the pressure on the drill at the lower end of the drill pipe 11) may lead, as by a pipe 32, to a chamber 33, provided with an outlet pipe 34 leading, by way of a valved pipe 35, into the bottom of the cylinder 24 of the jack 21; and the chamber 33 may be rovided with an additional outlet 37 containing a pressure controlled valve 36, the opening of which may permit fluid to escape into a secondary chamber 38 or otherwise into an over-flow pipe 39, by

- which water (or other fluid employed to operate the jack 21) may be ermitted to return to a tank 40, for re-use y the pump 27. .It will be obvious that, by the described construction, we provide means whereby a constantly-operated pump may be enabled either to produce a desired pressure within the jack 21, thereby' increasing the distance between the mentioned fixed sheaves and the movable sheave 22 and elevating the block 12, and we also provide means whereby this elevating effect may be dependent upon the position ofthe valve 36, the complete opening of which is intended to be effective to prevent upward mfgement of the piston 23.

Excessive pressure produced by continuous operation of the pump 27 is intended to be relieved by automatic opening of the valve 36; and to control this valve, we may employ means such as a leve-r 41, pivoted thereto at 42 and shown as fulcrumed at 43 on a link 44, provided with a fixed pivot 45. For the automatic manipulation of the lever 41, we consider it advantageous 4to provide a mechanical connection between this lever and a torque-responsive lever 46, to which movement may be imparted whenever the torsional strain upon the drill pipe 11 shall eX- 4(seed a predetermined maximum, as hereinafter described.

In order to control the admission and a regulating liand-valve H, the construction here referred to being such that, although fluid may enter the cylinder 24 at a rate predetermined by the operation of the pump 27 and the extent to which the valve 36 is opened, the egress of fluid from said cylinder, and the consequent maximum rate of lowering of the drill pipe 11, may be predetermined by a suitable adjustment of the regulatin valve H. Obviously either a closing of the regulating valve H or a closing of the automatic valve 36 may bc effective, even assuming a continued operation of the pump 27, to limit the rate of descent of the drill pipe 11 and the consequent pressure exerted by the drill carried thereby.

In order to impart suitable movement to the lever 46, or its equivalent, we consider it advantageous to rotate the table. 15 by driving means comprising a planetary transmission interposed between a driving shaft 47 and a driven shaft 48, the latter being shown as carrying a beveled gear 49 having direct engagement with said table. 'I 'he planetary transmission may comprise a driving gear 50 and a driven gear 51, between which We may interpose a rotatable element such as the small gear 52, rotatably mounted upon the lever 46, which may be pivoted on an extension 53 of the drive shaft 47, the construction here referred to being such that any `slowing of the driven gear 51, such as may result from an undue pressure on the drill point and a consequent undue torsional strain in the drill pipe, must result in an upward pivotal movement of the lever 46. Instead of transmitting movement directly from this lever to the lever 41, controlling the valve 36 and thereby the movement of the block 12 and drill pipe '11, we may optionally interpose resilient connections and any preferred system of links and levers. I

Suitably to guide and restrain the lever. 46, or its equivalent, we may employ means such as a guide opening 54 in a block and an adjustable or variable weight 56; and the position of this weight may predetermiiie the maximum torsional strain r0- quired to produce an upward movement of the lever 46. Vith these means we may optionally' associate resilient restraining means such as dash pots or springs 57 and 58; and, instead of securing these meams directly to the lever 46, we may optionally secure them to an intermediate or secondary lever 60, shown as pivoted at. 61 and as having` at 62, a pin and slot connection with the lever 46: and

the mentioned secondary lever 60, or its equivalent, may serve also as a means for Controlling the extent of opening of a valve 63 in a steam line 64, leading to the pump engine 65. vThe relationship between the levers 46 and 60 may be such that, whenever an excessive torsional strain upon the drill pipe 11 causes the lever 46 tov rise, the upward movement thereof may Cause a downward movement of'the remote end of the lever 60, thereby opening the valve 63 by means of the lever 66, the outer end of this lever being pivoted at 67 to a link 68, shown as pivoted also at 69 to the secondary lever and the mentioned downward movement of the remote end of the lever 60 may also be effective, as .by means of a link 70 by which connection may be made with the lever 41, in controlling the valve 36, the mentioned spring 58 being optionally interposed in this link. Y

Either the torque-responsive llever 46 or the secondary lever 60 may optionally be connected with indicators such as are shown at 71 and 72, these indicators being illustrated as respectively connected by links 7 3 and 74 with the secondary lever 60; and this secondary lever may optionally be connected, as by an additional link 75, with a lever 76 controlling the throttle valve 77 in a branch 78 of the steam line leading to the drilling engine. The leverv41, controlling the valve 36 may be normally held down not only by its described connection with the secondary lever 60. but by variable means such as a weight 79, mounted on either arm thereof; and, in order to permit of any necessary relative adjustments between the parts referred to, turn buckles 80, or their equivalent, may be interposed at any suitable points.

As to the operation of our above described organization, a set having been obtained, and assuming the movable sheave 22 to be in its elevated position andthe pump 27 to be in opera-tion at all times, the valve 36 may be so adjusted, by the means described, as to permit of a continuous re-circulation of ticY water or other fluid through theipipe 39 and a simultaneous slow delivery, through the valve H in by-pass B, of a regulated outflow permitting a gradual and controlled descent of the piston 23. lVhenever, as by reason of the encountering of a harder Stratum of rock, the torsional strain upon the string of pipe 11 shall rise above a predetermined maximum,` the elevation of the torque-responsive lever 46, causing a downwardinovement of theremote end of thet'secondary lever 60, may produce a downward movement of the lever 41, thereby closing the valve 36 and necessitating an inward flow through the pipes 34 and 35, past the' check valve V, thereby promptly raising the piston 23 and elevating the block 12, to relieve the strain upon the pipe 11. By the mentioned additional connection between the secondary lever 60 and the Valve 63, an increased supply of steam may be simultaneously delivered to the pump engine; and, if desired, the seine upward movement of the secondary lever 60 may be effective, as by means of the lever 76, to reduce the delivery of steam to the drilling engine. We believe, however, that the drilling engine may preferably be permitted to continue to rot-ate the table 15 under uniform steam pressure, the elevation ofthe ipe 11 being immediately effective to refiiice the torsional strains thereon, permitting the levers 46 and 41 both t0 drop promptly to their normal positions, and permitting the drill pipe 11, constantly rotated, gradually and cautiously to descend, and the drilling to continue.

In the form of our invention illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, it will be noted that the jack. 21a (Fig. 4) comprises telescoping sections 23a and 24a, the latter serving as a piston to which the movable sheaves 22a are secured, the fixed sheaves 19a being shown as secured at the base 25 of the jack, and all details of piping being omitted as sufficiently indicated in the preceding iigures.

In this embodiment of our invention, the torque-responsive lever 46:L is shown as carrying an intermediate gear 52a of substantially the same size as the gears 50a and 51a, respectively secured to the driving shaft47a and the driven shaft 48a; and thelever 46 is shown as fulcrumed on a short shaft 81, substantially concentric with the shafts 47a and 48a. The secondary lever 6()a is Shown as pivoted at 61a to a post 83 serving also as a guide; and,in this embodiment, the mentioned secondary lever carries the counterweight 56a, and inner guide 54a is integral with a stroke stop 84 for said secondary lever. The two mentioned levers are shown as connected by a link 85, and a dashpot 57a is shown as connected directly beneath va lever 4,61.

In this embodiment of our invention, the valve control lever 41a, pivoted at 42 is shown as movable by the contacting of an adjustable pin 62a, resiliently, supported, with the secondary lever 60a, andas carrying an adjustable and variable counterweight 79a-,1the end of this lever being pro- `vided with a dash pot 58, all of the mentioned parts being the functional equivalents of corresponding parts previously described. i

By means, such as we have described, we may get a full automatic control of the drilling operation, maintaining the torsional moment of the drill pipe at all times within a limit of safety. Any necessary withdrawal of the Adrill from the bottom of the hole may take place very rapidly; and

of equilibrium.

'-v weight, length or size of the drill pipe; and

" mentioned extension of the lever 60a.

a drill string may nevertheless be manipulated from a calf wheel or spooling drum in a usual way.

The valves 63, controlling the steam Supply to the pumping engine (or equivalent means controlling any alternative source of power) may be connected, as by slightly resilient means comprising an arm 68a, with the secondary lever a; and the outer end of this lever may optionally be extended, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to carry an adjustable and variable weight 86, this Weight being hung by means comprising a stirrup 8 7, movable within a slot 88 in ige e units comprised in the weights 56 (or 56a) and 79 (or 79a) and also the units comprised in the weight 86, when employed, may be identical and interchangeable in use; and the weight 86 may be employed to put the entire lever system initially in balance with reference to the dead weight of its component parts, the other mentioned Weights being readjusted from time to time according to variations in the weight of a string of drill pipe, a preferred bottom pressure of the drill, or other considerations.

Although we have herein described one complete embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that various features thereof m-ight be independently employed and also that various modifications might be made, by those' skilled in the art, without the slightest departure from the spirit and scope of our invention, as the same is indi- .cated above and in the following claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a rotary drilling organization, the combination of: a string of drill pipe; drive means for rotating said drill pipe; supporting means for` supporting said drill pipe; means operated by the pressure of a molecular Huid for feeding said supporting means; torque responsive means associated with said drive means and means connecting said-torque responsive means to said feeding means in such manner as to affect the feed thereof.

2. In a rotary drilling organization comprising a string of drill pipe, the combination of: means comprising a fluid-operated jack for -supporting said pipe, operating means for rotating said pipe, control means responsive to excessive torque interposed in said operating means, and means operated by said torque-responsive means for varying the Huid pressure Within said jack.

3. In a rotary drilling organization comprising a string of drill pipe, the combination of: means comprising a Huid-operated jackY for supporting said pipe, operating means for rotating said pipe, control means responsive to excessive torque interposed in said operating means, a valve connected to said fluid-operated jack for controlling the operation thereof, and means operated by said torque-responsive means for controlling the operation of said valve.

4. In a rotary drilling organization comprising a string of drill pipe, the combination of: means comprising a Huid-operated jack for supporting said pipe, operating means for rotating said pipe,`control means responsive to excessive torque interposed in said operating means, pumping means for supplying fluid to said fluid-operated jack, and means operated by said torque-responsive means for controlling a rate of pumping of said pumping means.

5. In a rotary drilling organization, the combination of: a string of drill pipe; drive means for rotating said drill pipe; supporting means for supporting said drill pipe; means operated by the -pressure of a molecular fluid for feeding saidv` supporting means; torque-responsive means associated with said drive means, and means connecting said torque responsive meansito said feeding means in such a manner as to reduce the feed of said drill pipe when the torque in said drill pipe increases above a certain amount.

6. In a rotary drilling organization, the combination of: a string of drill pipe; drive means for rotating said drill pipe; supporting means for supporting said drill pipe; means operated by the pressure of a molecular fluid for feeding said supporting means; operating means whereby the operation of said means for feeding said supportlng means and said drill pipe 4is controlled, said operating means controlling the supply and egress of Huid to and from said feeding means; torque responsive means associated with said drive means; and means connecting said torque responsive meansto said operating means in such manner as to cause said operating means to function in accordance with the torque of said drill pipe.

7. In a rotary drilling organization. the combination of: a string of drill pipe; drive means for rotating said drill pipe; supporting means for supporting said drill pipe; fluid-operated means for feeding said supporting means; operating means whereby the operation of said fluid-operated means for feeding said supporting means and said drill pipe is controlled, said operating means controlling the supply and egress of fluid to and from said fluid-operated means, Said operating means having a valve; and torqueresponsive means associated with said drive means' and withl said operating means in such a manner as to actuate said valve in order to cause said operating means to function in accordance with the torque of said drill pipe.

8. ln a rotary drilling organization, the combination of: a string of drill pipe; drive means for rotating said drill pipe; supporting means for supporting said drill pipe; fluid-operated means for feeding said supporting means; operating means whereby the operation of said fluid-operated means for feeding said supporting means and said. drill pipe is controlled, said operating means controlling the supply and egress of fluid to and from said fluid-operated means, said operating means having a valve; and torqueresponsive means associated with said drive means and with said operating meansin such a manner as to actuate said valve so that said'operating means will function to decrease the feed of said drill pipe when the torque therein increases abovea certain amount.

In a rotary drillingorganization, the combination of: a strinF of drill pipe; drive means for rotating said drill pipe supporting means for supporting said drill pipe; fluidoperated means for feeding said supporting means; operatingv means whereby the operation ofsaid fluid-operated means for feeding said supporting means and said drill pipe is controlled, said operating means controlling the supply and egress of fluid to land from said fluid-operated means, said operating means having a pump; and torque-responsive means associated with said drive meansV and with said operating means in such a manner as to affect the operation of said pump so that said operating means will function to decrease the feed of said drill pipe when the torque therein increases above a certain amount.

l0. In a rotary drilling organization, the combination of: a string of drill pipe; drive means for rotating said drill pi e; supporting means for supporting sai drill pipe; fluid-operated means for feeding said supporting means; operating means whereby the operation of said fluid-operated means for feeding said lsupporting means and said drill pipe is controlled, said operating means controlling the supply and egress of fluid to and from said fluid-operated means, said operating means having a valve and a pump; and torque-responsive means associated with said drive means and with said operating means in such a manner as to actuate said valve and aectf the operation of said pump so that said'operating means will function to decrease the feed of said drill pipe when the torque therein'increases above a certain amount.

ll. ln a rotary drilling organization, the combination of: a string of drill pipe; drive means for rotating said drill pipe; supporting means for supporting said drill pipe; fluid-operated means in the form of a fluidoperated jack for feeding said `supporting means; operating means whereby the operation of said fluid-operated means for feeding said supporting means and said drill pipe is controlled, said operating means controlling the supply and egress of fluid to and from said fluid-operated means; and torqueresponsive means associated with said drive means and with said operating means in such a manner as to cause said operating means to function in accordance with the torque of said drill pipe.

12. ln a rotary drilling organization, the combination of: a string of drill pipe; drive means for rotating said drill pipe; supporti ing means for supporting said drill pipe; fluid-operated means in theform of a fluidoperated jack for feeding said supporting means; operating means whereby the operation of said fluid-operated means for feeding said supporting means and said drill pipe is controlled, said operating means controlling tlie supply and egress of fluid to and from said fluid-operated' means, said operating means having a valve; and torqueresponsive means associated-with said operating means in such a manner as to actuate said valve so that said operating means will function to decrease the feed'of said drill pipe when the torque therein increases above a certain amount.

13. In a rotary/drilling organization, the combination of: a string of drill pipe; driveI means for rotating said drill pipe; supporting means for. supporting said drill pipe; fluid-operated means in the form of a fluidoperated jack for feeding said supporting means; operating means whereby the operation of said fluid-operated means for feeding said supporting means and said drill pipe is controlled, said operating means controlling the supply and egress of fluid to and from said fluid-operated means, said operating means having a pump; and torque-responsive means associated with said drive means and with said operating means in such a manner as to affect 'the operation of said pump so that said operating means will function to decrease the feed of said drill pipe when the torque therein increases above -a certain amount.

14. In a rotary drilling organization. the combination of: a string of drill pipe; drive means for rotating saida drill pipe; supporting means for supporting said drill pipe; fluid-operated means in the form of a fluidoperated jack for feeding said supporting lll) means; operating means whereby the operation of said Huid-operated means for feeding said supporting means and said drill plpe is controlled, said operating means controlling the supply and egress of fluid to and in such a manner as to actuate said valve and affect the operation of said pump so that said operating means will function to decrease the feed of said drill pipe when the torque therein increases above a certain amount.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California. this 17th day of June, 1924.

RICHARD A. SPERRY-` .ioHN A. ZUBLIN. SAMUEL J; DICKEY. 

